Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park Development

**southen** · November-27-21, 06:39 PM

The Riverfront Conservancy is spearheading the project, it isn't in the city general fund so we can dispense of that "theory". After the the winning team was selected and presented their design the project has gone through a community engagement process to gain input to potentially change the design and programming based on the needs and wants of Detroiters. Doing that during a pandemic probably has its challenges and has caused delays in moving forward in addition to the other challenges of the last two years. Take a deep breath, the construction will start soon and we will have a world class park to enjoy.

**Gistok** · November-28-21, 04:42 AM

Originally Posted by southen

Doing that during a pandemic probably has its challenges and has caused delays in moving forward in addition to the other challenges of the last two years.

Southen... I was wondering about the Wilson Foundation... and their mandate [by Ralph Wilson] to spend all of the $1.2 billion between Detroit and Buffalo within about 20 years. I haven't heard of any more recent large grants to either city... and I imagine that the delayed paydown of the fund could mean that it's still [with the stock market so high] near its' original $1.2 billion.

**stasu1213** · November-28-21, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by southen

The Riverfront Conservancy is spearheading the project, it isn't in the city general fund so we can dispense of that "theory". After the the winning team was selected and presented their design the project has gone through a community engagement process to gain input to potentially change the design and programming based on the needs and wants of Detroiters. Doing that during a pandemic probably has its challenges and has caused delays in moving forward in addition to the other challenges of the last two years. Take a deep breath, the construction will start soon and we will have a world class park to enjoy.

Excuses after excuse after excuses. Doesn't foundation money go through the city government so that it is distributed to the Riverfront Conservancy? The development was moving at a much faster pace when Faye Nelson was the head of the Riverfront Conservancy. Things had slowed drastically after she had stepped down. You are right. Maybe it is a theory. The question remain is why haven't work was started in 2018 when the money was allocated toward the project? The battle for the design for the thing should had brought forth a winner earlier on. Incompetence is the reason for waiting to get the money then battle a few years for a design

**Gistok** · November-28-21, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by stasu1213

Excuses after excuse after excuses. Doesn't foundation money go through the city government so that it is distributed to the Riverfront Conservancy? The development was moving at a much faster pace when Faye Nelson was the head of the Riverfront Conservancy. Things had slowed drastically after she had stepped down. You are right. Maybe it is a theory. The question remain is why haven't work was started in 2018 when the money was allocated toward the project? The battle for the design for the thing should had brought forth a winner earlier on. Incompetence is the reason for waiting to get the money then battle a few years for a design

You do realize that besides the pandemic, there are federal and state environmental impact studies done... ad nauseum. This isn't just building upon the riverbank... but actually adding a channel to the river.

But I do agree... this has taken forever.